Pilots have just about the coolest job in the world -- mainly because every time they clock in, lots of people are trusting them with their lives. But while being a pilot is sure to make you at least one of the five coolest people at any party, no one thinks about the air traffic controller. And people totally should. The truth is, if you've ever flown in a plane, or stood in a place over which planes were flying, you have air traffic controllers to thank for not being killed in a biblical cataclysm. Insidermonkey experts made a list of 25 best states for air traffic controllers.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the starting salary for new controllers undergoing training was $17,803 in 2012. Controllers' salaries increase as they complete each new training phase. According to the FAA, controllers who have completed on-the-job training and had been placed at a facility had a starting annual salary of $37,070 in 2012. A full explanation of current starting wages can be found on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jobs & careers page. You can also check our list of 15 best states for agricultural workers.